Which school has the most passionate football fans?

FOUR CORNERS: A sports debate

There are passionate fans across this country, fromsea to shining sea. But if you want to find the most passionate, you must head to Tuscaloosa, Ala., home to the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Why are they the most passionate? For one, cheering for the Tide is away of life. Football is discussed every day of the year, from recruiting to coaching to play calling to expectations.

There is amuseumacross fromthe athletic complex dedicated to former coach Bear Bryant, plus a street and stadium that also bear his name. After Nick Saban was hired as coach in early 2007, about 92,000 people came towatch the spring game.

Youwould bewell-served to read"Rammer JammerYellowHammer"byWarren St. John for a complete understanding ofwhatmakes these fans the most passionate in America.

aadelson@tribune.com

Buckeyes spring to mind

Teddy Greenstein

Chicago Tribune

Here'smy objective measure for judging the passion/insanity of college football fan bases: attendance at the spring game.

Howmany face-painters will set aside three hours of their lives towatch a glorified scrimmage?The top five, according to 2009 numbers: Ohio State (95,722), Alabama (84,050), Nebraska (77,670), Penn State (76,500) and Florida (65,000).

Of course, this method is about as perfect as TigerWoods' marriage. Schools can fudge the numbers (Michigan reported a remarkably even 50,000), and some charge $5 to $10 for entry,while others simply open the gate.

Still it's a better method than counting the number of foamfingers sold or angry e-mails sent to columnists. Just look at the bottom of the list:Washington State attracted 400 people for its 2009 spring game. Not sure if that included the players.

tgreenstein@tribune.com

Gators fans the chomps

Dean Jones Jr.

Baltimore Sun

Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State routinely fill their stadiums with more than 100,000 fans on gamedays.

Other colleges, such as NotreDame,Texas, Oklahomaand Nebraska, boast a venerable history full of success and respect for the gameamong their followers.

Air Force, Army andNavy deserve to be mentioned because their supporters often are attached to the program through support of the country's armedforces,whether personally or through family and friends.

Nothing, however, compares withwhat happens in the Southeastern Conference, and one team shines above Alabama,Tennessee and the other programs.

Florida's recent success puts the school at the top of the list.

TheGatorChompis one of the most recognizable taunts in college football, and no one wants to play in "TheSwamp,"where the Gators are 113-13 since 1990.

dean.jones@tribune.com

Tide is high-and mighty

Chris Dufresne

Los Angeles Times

Nebraska has the smartest football fans.They knowdown and distance and, in the grander sense, what the score is. I remember being at a gamein Lincoln years ago and the scoreboard quiz asking fans to "name that formation."

But the most passionate fans, a euphemism for nuts, are in Tuscaloosa and cheer for Alabama. I knowthis firsthand for having underrated the Crimson Tide all year, even though Alabama ended upNo.2 inmy poll.

And for having the audacity to pickTexas to win theBCStitle game, even though Alabama is 0-7-1 all-time against the Longhorns. I've spent 80 billable hours this season answering e-mails to Alabama. It doesn't matter to 'Bama fans.

You are with them or against them, as evidenced by the case of former coach Dennis Franchione,whose name was virtually purged fromAlabama history after he betrayed the school by leaving for Texas A&M.